Snap lock



y 1941- E. WORTHINGI ON I SNAP LOCK Filed Oct. 12, 1959 ATTORNEY Patentecl May 13, 1941 UNHTED STES OFFIQ SNAP LOCK New Jersey Application October 12, 1939, Serial No. 299,220

2 Claims. (c1. 292 2o9) The present invention relates to a snap-catch for lugg e or the like and has particular reference to and has as an object the provision of a snap-catch which is simple in construction and of an improved design which will hold tightly when closed and which may be readily opened.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a snap-catch embodying the instant invention, the catch being shown in open position and secured in place to a piece of luggage only a portion of which is illustrated Fig, 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the catch in closed position; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along a plane indicated by the lines 33 in Fig. 2.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawing discloses a sheet metal snap-catch which includes a latch body member I, a keeper or cover member l2 and a movable catch or latch element I3. The body member II is preferably formed with a hollow flat and rectangular shaped base plate E5 having peripheral flanges IS. The base plate is rigidly secured by lugs ll to the body portion of a piece of luggage I8 such as a lunch kit, box or the like. These lugs I! are formed on two opposing flanges l6 of the base plate and extend through slots I9 formed in the luggage. The lugs are bent outwardly against the inside surfaceof the luggage and thus hold the body member I l in place.

The body member carries the catch element [3. For this purpose the base plate l5 of the body member is formed with a hollow boss 2| having straight and flat side wall sections 22 and a fiat front Wall section 23. At its upper end the boss is open and at its lower end the front wall section curves inwardly towards the base plate and merges with it.

The boss 2| encloses a flat leaf spring 25. One end of the spring is straight and is disposed in a stepped recess constituting a shoulder 28 formed in the boss where the front wall merges into the base plate I5. The other end of the spring is partially curled inwardly as at 21 and this curled end is adapted to slide on the inner surface of the boss. A flange 28 on the boss front wall section 23 at its upper edge prevents displacement of the spring.

The catch element |3 is formed with an elongated outwardly bent and substantially halfround catch wall section 3| having on one side thereof two depending bent leg sections 32. These leg sections straddle and extend down adjacent the side wall sections 22 of the body member boss 2|. The lower extremities of .the leg sections are provided with inwardly projecting flat lugs 34 which extend into holes 35 formed in the boss side wall sections 22 and these lug sections engage against the leaf spring 25. Above the catch wall section 3| the element is formed with a broad outwardly curved finger hold portion 37.

Hence the catch element l3 may be hinged on its lugs 34 relative to the body member H and when so hinged the lugs press against the spring which thereby exerts a pressure on them. Thus when the fiat sides of the lugs 34 are against the spring 25 the latter holds the catch element in an upright position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This is the catch locking position. When the catch element is hinged into a laterally extended or unlocked position as shown in Fig. 1, the edges of the flat lugs 34 engage the spring and the latter thus retains the catch element in this position.

When the catch element I3 is in its upright or looking position it interlocks with the cover member I2. This cover member includes a hollow base plate 4| which is surrounded on three sides with flanges 42. The two end flanges have holding lugs 43 which extend through slots 44 in a cover 45 of the luggage and are bent outwardly against the inner surface of the cover in order to hold the cover member 2 in place.

The cover member i2 is supported against torsional stresses by a U-shaped overhanging lug 41 which is formed on the top flange 42 and which extends through a slot 48 in the luggage cover 45. The terminal edge of this U-sh-aped lug engages against the inner surface of the luggage cover beyond the area covered by the base plate 4| and thereby supports the base plate against being sprung away from the luggage cover when the catch element I3 engages the cover member l2.

Along the lower edge of the base plate 4| the cover member I2 is formed with an elongated and outwardly projecting half-round catch wall section 52. It is this wall section that cooperates with and interlocks with the half-round catch wall section 3| of the catch element l3 when the latter is in its upright or looking position hereinbefore mentioned. In this position the interlocked half-round wall sections mesh and engage with one another, the catch element wall section overlapping and surrounding the cover member wall section thereby locking the cover member l2 with the body member H in a grip which is sufficiently strong to permit carrying the luggage from a handle or the like secured to the luggage cover.

, It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is: V I V 1. In a snap-catch for luggage or the like, including a sheet metal keeper member terminating in a depending substantially uniformly outwardly and inwardly curved projecting latch engaging portion, the combination of a sheet metal latch body member adapted to be secured to a piece of luggage in substantially the plane of the keeper, and a catch element hingedly connected to said latch body member and adapted to be hinged into locking position with said keeper member, said catch element including an elongated outwardly and inwardly substantially uniformly curved projecting half-round lock wall section which interlocks with and closely conforms to the curvature of the inwardly and outwardly curved terminal portion of said keeper when the catch element is in looking position to thereby lock together said latch body member and said keeper.

2. In a snap-catch for luggage or the like including a sheet metal keeper member having an overhanging supporting lug extending inside the luggage for holding the keeper against displacement and terminating in a depending substantially uniformly outwardly and inwardly curved projecting latch engaging portion, the combination of a sheet metal latch body member adapted to be secured to a piece of luggage in substantially the plane of the keeper and having an overhanging supporting lug extending inside the luggage for holding said latch :body member against displacement, a catch element hingedly connected to said latch body member and adapted to be hinged into locking position with said keeper member, said catch element including an elongated outwardly and inwardly substantially uniformly curved projecting half-round lock wall section which overlaps and interlocks with and closely conforms to the curvature of the inwardly and outwardly curved terminal portion of said keeper when the catch element is in locking position to lock together said latch body member and said keeper member, and a spring element housed in said latch body member and exerting a pressure against said catch element for removably holding the same in both locked and released positions.

LUCILE WORTI-HNGTON, Administratrir of the Estate of Everett Worthington, Deceased. 

